How to Find Your Local Altitude

Written by chad buleen| 13/05/2017

The USGS allows you to find your local altitude. (contraste en altitude image by rachid amrous-spleen from Fotolia.com)

The altitude of a place -- also sometimes known as elevation -- is the distance above sea level at which a location resides. The place in the world with the highest altitude is Mount Everest, which rises about 29,000 feet above sea level. You can use the United States Geological Survey's national map to find your local altitude.

Visit the United States Geological Survey's National Map page.

Click the "Zoom In" button, then click on your area on the map to zoom in to the area for which you want to find the altitude.

Click "Elevation" on the left side of the page.

Click on the section on the map for which you want to know the altitude. A new page will open that lists the location's altitude.